Page 121 of The Art of Exiley

“No one outside of the Oculus knew about the abductions until recently. Most of the other Sires came willingly,” my mother explains quietly. “So your abduction seemed like an external threat to the rest of us.”

I don’t even have words. I’ve known Kor for so long, and this is so far from anything I can imagine him doing, but so is drinking a young girl’s blood. There’s not enough room inside me to contain so much shock and confusion.

I saw something I wasn’t supposed to.

That’s what Izzy’s message had said. But whatever she saw, it wasn’t at Oz Tech. It was with theFamilies. Whatever it was made her want to leave the order, and she’d tried to protect me from them too.

I hope that wherever she is, she’s safe.

“Please understand.” Kor’s expression is genuinely contrite. “I did this for you, not just for the Families. Everything has worked out better than we could have hoped. I’m sorry you were afraid and hurt. I will never forgive myself for your scars.” He grabs the cross at his neck, squeezing it in his fist. “But I’m also glad it worked.”

I just shake my head, at a loss for how to respond to so great a betrayal from one of the people I love most in the world.

“You will forgive me,” he insists with the conviction of someone who always gets his way. “You’ll go back to get more information from the heretics, and together we’ll bring radical change to the world. Then you’ll realize it was all worth it and forgive me.” His tone is confident, but his eyes are pleading.

“You need to leave, Ada,” my mother says. “The entire Inner Chamber was alerted about the breach, and they won’t all want to let you go.” I follow her, turning my back on Kor without saying goodbye.

Mom leads me with a flashlight to the area of shore where Rafe’s waiting. When we’re almost there, I second-guess myself and stop walking.

“This doesn’t feel right. I thought the Families weregood.”

“It’s not so simple. And many in the Families are not okay with what has been happening here.”

“Then should we even be helping them? Or should we be stopping them?”

My mother is thoughtful for a moment, then says, “I have always believed in the mission of the Families. Kor has a new, radical plan to help make it happen, and the Oculus approves. I’m not the only one who doesn’t agree with his methods, but he’s just one person who holds temporary influence within a greater organization, and he may yet make the world a better place.”

“Maybe I should stay.”

“No.”Her voice is suddenly sharp. “It’s safer for you to go.”

My stomach churns at how clinical she is about me leaving again. “You just told Kor that I can choose what’s best for me.” That had felt like a breakthrough between us, like she was finally starting to treat me like an adult.

She sighs. “Of course you should choose. But you also don’t have the full picture to make the best choice. Your safety is my priority, far above the duties of being part of the Families. I can’t keep them from using you for your blood if you stay here.”

“Mom, you need to protect yourself, too. Part of why I came here was to warn you. The Makers know who you are.”

“Don’t worry about me. We know what they know. Just keep yourself safe.”

“And what about Grandfather? Is he really okay?”

Her expression is strained. “He’s fine.”

“Even if it’s not cancer, is there something else wrong with him? Heseemed so sick. Rafe is a… healer. He agreed to try to help Grandfather. Maybe we should go to him before we—”

“No. You have to leave. I promise you that he’s not sick. He had a series of surgeries, but they were successful, and he’s recovering well.”

“Why didn’t I know about them?”

“He didn’t want you to. He thought your concern for him might affect your choice about whether to leave.”

Why does it feel like she’s not telling me everything?

Mom’s pocket has been buzzing nonstop. She hands me the flashlight and takes out her phone. Her eyes flick to the screen and then back to me with a familiar detached determination. She says, “I’ll figure out a way to smooth things over with the Oculus.” Between sentences, she expertly reapplies her lipstick, no mirror needed. Her armor before heading into battle. “Go now. When you get back to the institute, you can continue to spy, or not if you don’t think that’s the right choice, but make protecting yourself your main goal.”

I return her flashlight, then move to give her a hug, but she’s already turning and walking away. So I do too.

When I push through the brush, Rafe is right there. Not down by the boat as I’d expected. We were whispering, but I know that blood doping has given him enhanced hearing. I know he’s heard our entire conversation.

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